BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota lawmakers are reinstating a program that subsidizes affordable housing projects, but the state funding is much lower than supporters had hoped for.
Legislators approved $7.5 million for the Housing Incentive Fund, which has helped finance 2,500 rental units since 2011, the Bismarck Tribune reported. The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s program wasn’t funded in 2017 due to limited state resources.
Gov. Doug Burgum had proposed allocating $20 million to bring back the housing incentive for 2019-2021. Lawmakers considered funding proposals of up to $40 million for the program.
Jolene Kline, the state Housing Finance Agency’s executive director, said she’s disappointed by the funding amount but pleased that the program has been restored.
“We’ll make as big a difference as we can in as many people’s lives as we can,” Kline said.
The program supports affordable housing for senior citizens, low- to moderate-income residents, individuals with disabilities and those experiencing homelessness.
She said the agency can now likely support 150 rental units across the state. The agency will solicit proposals in September, according to Kline.
“I’m almost positive that we will get good applications in September that will exceed that $7.5 million,” she said.
Republican Sen. Curt Kreun, who sponsored the bill to allocate $40 million to the fund, said he plans to propose additional money for the program.
“The investment of what the state put in was multiplied several times, and it worked out real well,” said Kreun, who also chairs the Grand Forks Housing Authority. “We’ll work at it again next session.”
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Information from: Bismarck Tribune, http://www.bismarcktribune.com
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